Art show at West Brighton tattoo studio to benefit Project Hospitality

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - WEST BRIGHTON - Artist Magie Serpica of Dongan Hills came up with a give-back idea, and the result is "First Taste," an art show that opens at 8 p.m. tomorrow night at Bound for Glory Tattoo Studio on Forest Avenue, where she works.

Proceeds from sales of the art and photography on display will be split between the contributing artists, and Project Hospitality, the interfaith nonprofit group that provides services to the homeless, the hungry, and people living with HIV/AIDS, and celebrates its 29th anniversary this year.

Brooklyn-born Ms. Serpica and her husband, David Freitag, a native Islander, are both artists, and the parents of two children, 5 months and 6 years old. "I've been a tattoo artist for nine years," she said last week, explaining that one of her motivations for the show is to promote understanding of her craft, and make it "more accessible" to the general public.

"We're artists – we just are using another medium."

Her idea – which Bound for Glory's owner, Nick Caruso, embraced whole-heartedly – was to "bring together tattoo artists and other artists on Staten Island," she said.

NO CUT

The studio will take no cut on the artwork sales.

"Galleries normally get 20 percent or more" when they sell work of exhibiting artists, said Ms. Serpica. Instead, the tattoo studio will donate this portion of the proceeds to Project Hospitality.

HELP FROM BUSINESSES

Local business have pitched in with contributions to support the opening party tomorrow night, which is open to the public.

"Starbucks donated coffee and pastries, there will be cupcakes from the New York Cupcake Bar, and we have wine from Jean's," Ms. Serpica said, referring to the wine and spirits store on Forest Avenue that is a next-door neighbor.

"We're also selling tickets for a raffle – the prize is a huge basket that includes one hour in the chair with me, a Comic Book Jones gift certificate, and lots of other great stuff."

"It looks like an art space," Ms. Serpico said, describing the area of the studio where the work will be exhibited. The show will hang through Feb. 27.